“Yes. So I thanked him, and as we talked, we ended up watching the festival together. But I didn’t expect Your Majesty to have seen me.”

“It was just for a moment. I was going to call out, but you disappeared in an instant.”

Disappeared in an instant…?

“…When exactly did you see me?”

Aristie cautiously asked. Khalid replied in a voice filled with emotions he seemed to suppress.

“After winning the tournament, Prince Icaryuel suddenly jumped off the stage and ran off with you.”

‘Of all scenes to see.’

Aristie pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh.

It was more amusing than embarrassing.

How flustered he must have been to see his fiancée being carried away by a stranger.

“At first, I thought you were being kidnapped, so I was going to chase after you, but seeing your demeanor, it didn’t seem like that. I brought it up because I was curious about what happened.”

“I see… But it would have been difficult for you to follow.”

“Difficult? Why?”

You’re asking because you don’t know?

“You had company, didn’t you?”

Oh, I ended up saying it…

I intended to pretend not to know until the end, but it slipped out because I found it annoying.

“What I mean is, didn’t you have company? It’s unlikely that Your Majesty visited such a place alone.”

“No, I was alone. Except for Zeph. I was on my way back early because I had work left to do.”

“Oh…”

Zeph was a nickname for Zephyros.

It meant he had sent Estelle back early.

Thinking about how she had stayed out late with Ryuel in contrast, Aristie felt conflicted. She felt guilty even though there was no reason to.

At that moment, the music gradually slowed, and the melody softened. Leading Aristie to the slow rhythm, Khalid suddenly spoke.

“Actually, I won too.”

“Pardon?”

“The arm wrestling contest.”

“Yes…?”

Aristie was puzzled for a while, trying to understand what she had heard. Eventually, she realized it was about the event during the Harvest Festival.

So he was saying he participated in a contest and won?

“Oh, I see. Congratulations.”

She responded as if she understood. Meanwhile, her gaze drifted to Khalid’s arm holding her.

A long, firm arm. Despite the gentle hold, the strength felt solid.

Even in his formal attire, the wildness lurking beneath the ceremonial dress was palpable. The tightly packed muscles exuded presence even when he moved, even when he breathed.

‘Of course, I know Khalid is strong…’

But still, the Emperor of the great empire in an arm wrestling contest. And there were plenty of muscular men too.

Noticing Aristie’s gaze, Khalid unexpectedly launched into an introduction to muscle science.

“The key to a test of strength lies in the density and quality of the muscles, and the technique of using strength. For example, is spotting an opponent’s gap and unleashing condensed power explosively.”

“Is that so.”

“Indeed.”

Khalid responded with a hint of pride. In the past, she might have found that endearing and laughed.

But thinking of Estelle cheering beside him during the contest, she couldn’t muster a smile at all.

Even if he didn’t know, he might have hugged his neck the moment he won.

“I see. I’ve learned something good.”

Imagining such a scene, Aristie responded indifferently. Khalid seemed a bit sullen at her lukewarm reaction.

Meanwhile, the music reached its climax, and the melody became grand. Khalid firmly supported Aristie’s waist and spun her around like a bow, bending her back.

Gazing only at each other, they gracefully swept across the ballroom and finally finished their dance with the fading music.

Amidst thunderous applause, Khalid held Aristie tightly. As if displaying his possessiveness towards her.

“Sometimes, I want to dance with you alone, even if it’s not at a ball.”

Khalid looked down at Aristie with a charming gaze, leaving a lingering impression. Their bodies were so close that his whole body resonated like a throat.

His subtly elevated voice contained an excitement that only she could notice.

“There will be an opportunity someday. But for now, don’t you have another partner waiting?”

Aristie subtly avoided the lust-filled golden eyes and withdrew. Since the Emperor had initiated the dance, now everyone would pair up and enjoy their own stage.

The same applied to the Emperor and the future Empress.

Since it was a banquet inviting prominent foreign delegations, it was proper etiquette to stay and present at least two or three more performances with different partners.

“Then, I’ll see you later, Your Majesty.”

“Please enjoy yourself.”

Khalid reluctantly let Aristie go. His steps towards the next partner carried more regret than excitement.

Nevertheless, the chosen woman was Estelle.

Of course, there were many reasons for Estelle to be chosen. Starting with her appearance, she was very lovely and beautiful. Enough to be in the spotlight.

Moreover, she was the young lady of a high-ranking noble family newly debuted in society, and the circumstances of her entry into the family were quite sensational.

Above all, she was Khalid’s hidden woman. Yes, just that fact alone was enough to understand.

But then.

“Lady Yentrice, it’s an honor to meet you. If I may introduce myself…”

“I have long admired you, my lady. May I dare to ask for a dance…”

“I hope you will give me the opportunity to dance with you…”

“Please, just once, hold my hand! It would be a memory for a lifetime…”

Amidst the requests pouring in from the men, Aristie turned to the most gentle voice.

“Would you like to dance, Lady Alice?”

Ryuel was there.

* * *

“Ryuel…”

Just as Khalid chose Estelle, there were ample reasons for Aristie to choose Ryuel as her next dance partner.

First, he was a prince from the friendly nation of Ludrian. His outstanding appearance already captivated many young ladies scattered throughout the ballroom, and as an acquaintance, it wasn’t awkward to converse with him.

Not only that, he was the savior who rescued her when she was about to fall into the water. One cannot neglect a savior of life.

‘So a dance should be fine.’

With her rationalization complete, she felt much more at ease. Aristie gracefully excused herself from the other suitors and took Ryuel’s extended hand.

“Please take care of me, Icar…”

As she greeted him, she noticed Ryuel’s silver eyebrows tense and immediately corrected herself.

“Prince Ryuel.”

“Likewise, Lady Alice.”

With a twist of his lips, Ryuel led Aristie onto the stage and began to lead her in the dance to the music.

She had sensed he was extraordinary before, but seeing his dance skills, he was even more the epitome of a man of society.

Perfect movements and even the slightest eye contact… His skills were flawless, enough to entrust not just her body but her heart as well.

If there was one thing that made her nervous, it was his unique scent.

A floral scent completely different from Khalid’s.

As if a floral fragrance was added to a man’s scent, if Khalid was of the dragon lineage, Ryuel seemed to belong to the lineage of flowers. This scent kept bringing back memories of him.

“I have something I’m curious about.”

It seemed Aristie wasn’t the only one recalling memories. Ryuel, too, was half-lost in reminiscence as he asked.

“Is Alice your pseudonym?”

“…What about you, Ryuel?”

“As you might guess, it’s a nickname. Used by those dear to me.”

“It’s the same for me. My late mother was from another country, and in that language, my name was pronounced ‘Alice-ti.'”

“I see.”

“My mother liked it and often called me Alice. Now, there aren’t many who call me that…”

“At least one more person now.”

Ryuel said and leaned in close to whisper.

“I like Alice.”

As his scent seemed to deepen, Ryuel’s head moved away again. Aristie, with goosebumps on her neck, was helplessly led by Ryuel.

She wanted to tell him she also liked his nickname, but her lips wouldn’t move. It was clear that saying it out loud would lead to misunderstandings.

…No, perhaps the bigger problem was that it might not be a misunderstanding.

“If it’s okay, would you make some time soon?”

As his voice, like a melody, seeped into her ears, Aristie’s gaze, fixed on his chest, moved upward. She thought he had asked her to dance to say this.

“Is that a date request?”

Aristie asked, probing.

And she prepared an answer.

If he said yes, she planned to explain how much of a gossip topic a date with another man would be for her.

She intended to talk about how many similar schemes had been attempted and how to overcome the resulting crises.

“No, it isn’t.”

But Ryuel denied it.

“If I were to call it a date, it would put you in a difficult position, my lady. So let’s give it another pretext. Perhaps delivering greetings from Her Highness, Princess Terosia…”

‘Just how far…’

How much has this man thought about me?

His meticulous consideration, almost too detailed, made her realize anew how sincere he was towards her. She couldn’t help but be drawn to Ryuel, who approached her cautiously, as if afraid that even a speck of dust would land on her.